Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed Bruno Fernandes will captain the side in their Champions League group stage clash with French giants Paris Saint-Germain.
Solskjaer also confirmed the absences of Edinson Cavani, Harry Maguire and Mason Greenwood, among others, for the game.
Bruno Fernandes to Captain Manchester United
Bruno Fernandes: An Honour to Captain Manchester United
Club captain Harry Maguire will miss United’s Champions League opener with an injury. Solskjaer is hopeful Maguire will return to face Chelsea in the Premier League at the weekend. However, in his absence, Bruno Fernandes will wear the captain’s armband.
Fernandes himself was not aware of this, with Solskjaer leaving it until during the press conference to tell him. The pair sat in front of the cameras for the socially distanced briefing, ahead of Tuesday night’s game in Paris.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told the media (via Manchester Evening News): “We hope Harry (Maguire) will be fit for the weekend. The captain sits next to me, Bruno (Fernandes) will captain the team tomorrow.”
Fernandes reacted with a look of surprise and confirmed he had himself just found out the news.
The moment Bruno Fernandes found out he will captain #MUFC against PSG pic.twitter.com/hSYQ35jFkP
— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) October 19, 2020
The Portuguese midfielder added: “I was not expecting this – I found out the same time as you!
“It’s an honour, an important achievement for me. The captain is everyone – everyone needs to help, be a leader on their way. The leadership is different in every player. It is not about me, but about the team.”
Cavani Not Ready for Debut
Elsewhere, Manchester United will again be without new signing Edinson Cavani, Cavani missed the weekend’s 4-1 win over Newcastle United, having been required to quarantine when arriving in the United Kingdom. He has now fulfilled his quarantine time and begun training with his teammates. However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted the former Paris Saint-Germain forward is in need of a few more training sessions.
Solskjaer said: “Edinson needs a few more days training before we can maybe think about the weekend.”
Hinting Cavani could make his debut against Chelsea on Saturday evening.
Not Taking Any Chances With Greenwood
The United boss also confirmed Eric Bailly and Jesse Lingard did not travel.
Like Cavani, Mason Greenwood also missed out v Newcastle and remains absent.
When asked if this was to do with disciplinary issues, Solskajer said: “If that is the case, why is Brandon (Williams) here? What are your sources? No (it’s not true).”
Solskjaer, pressed for more on Greenwood’s injury, added: “I cannot declare medical stuff. Just a niggle, we don’t want to take any chances with him.”
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